Waterfowl

Ducks

Ducks come in many shapes and colors. Most Michigan ducks
can be divided into two broad groups that are named for their eating
habits.

Dabblers
(also called puddle ducks) have broad, flat bills that they use to
feed on plants, seeds, and insects in water less than one foot deep.
They are most often seen in shallow areas of ponds, lakes, or slow-moving
water. They take off from the water with a sudden, upward leap into
the air.

Divers Most diving ducks have stout bodies, short necks and
tails, and large paddle feet. They dive to feed on fish, shellfish,
insects, and aquatic plants. They are most often seen in open-water
areas of large, deep lakes and rivers. Most of them must run along
the water’s surface to gain enough speed to become airborne.

Geese

Geese have heavier bodies and longer necks than ducks.
Male and female geese look the same. Geese have strong legs that are
well-suited for walking. They are grazers and spend a lot of time
clipping grass and eating waste grain in farm fields far from the
water.

Swans

Swans are the largest of all waterfowl, yet they
are graceful in the air and on the water. Their bodies are all white,
and males and females look alike. Their necks are longer than their
bodies. Like dabbling ducks, most swans are found on ponds and lakes
where they "tip up" to feed on underwater vegetation only as deep
as they can reach. Notice the difference between the bill of the native
trumpeter swan and that of the mute swan, an ornamental swan introduced
from Europe.